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Anthony Gordon is convinced Newcastle United can be “anything we want to be” this season after playing a key role in igniting their Champions League campaign.

The 24-year-old England international started the Magpies’ impressive 4-0 victory over Belgian champions Union Saint-Gilloise in Brussels on Wednesday evening as Eddie Howe’s new-look side finally rediscovered its swagger.

Goals had been in short supply for much of the season previously, dulling the effect of good performances, in particular the 3-2 home defeat by champions Liverpool with 10 men following Gordon’s dismissal.

Asked what the season could hold for his team, Gordon replied: “We can be anything we want to be this season. We can beat anyone in any game.

“I never go into a game thinking we’re going to lose. As long as we can keep that defensive structure, that creativity, we can beat anyone.

“You saw that in the Liverpool game. For the first 30 minutes before I got sent off, we dominated them and they’re the champions of England.”

Better than Gordon: Newcastle star is now one of the best in the world

Newcastle romped to a big win in the Champions League this week, with Anthony Gordon starring.

By
Kelan Sarson

Oct 2, 2025

Newcastle had won just two of eight games in all competitions before they ran out at Lotto Park, and they did so knowing a failure to add to that tally after a 2-1 home defeat by Barcelona in their opening European fixture would significantly dent their qualification hopes.

However, they need not have worried as they turned in perhaps their most coherent display to date to brush aside a team that had won 3-1 at PSV Eindhoven last month.

Gordon reacts to comments on Newcastle striker Woltemade

Nick Woltemade’s cheeky 17th-minute flick, which went in off defender Kevin Mac Allister, set the ball rolling, and two penalties calmly dispatched by Gordon and a fourth goal from substitute Harvey Barnes completed the job in style.

Record signing Woltemade had found himself in Karl-Heinz Rummenigge’s firing line ahead of kick-off with the Bayern Munich executive claiming Stuttgart had found “an idiot” to pay £69million for a player the German club had also been chasing.

£150,000-a-week Gordon’s assessment of Rummenigge’s comments on a man who scored for the third time in four starts, however, was withering.

Woltemade might have added to his tally had he managed to get his hands on either of the two penalties, but having seen former team-mate Alexander Isak boost his goals tally from the spot during his time on Tyneside, Gordon was in no mood to let that happen.

He said: “I don’t mind him wanting to take it. A striker should want to take it. But I’ve won too many and not taken them at this club. Now Alex is gone, they’re definitely mine.”

Cristiano Ronaldo’s glittering career has rarely faced criticism for effort, but a surprising revelation from Andrea Pirlo’s former assistant suggests otherwise. Alparslan Erdem, who worked with Pirlo in Turkey, explained that the coach's tactical system clashed with Ronaldo’s style, leading the Italian to secretly prefer Alvaro Morata during his time at the helm in Turin.

• Why Pirlo preferred Morata over Ronaldo at Juventus

  Ronaldo’s spell at Juventus brought goals, trophies and unmatched professionalism, yet behind the scenes, it wasn’t always a perfect fit. During Pirlo’s only season as head coach in 2020–21, the Italian legend struggled to mould a system that could balance his ideas with Ronaldo’s free-flowing, goal-hungry instincts.

  Now, Erdem who was Pirlo’s former assistant at Turkish side Karagumruk has shed new light on the tactical tension that defined that season. Speaking to , Erdem revealed that while Pirlo respected Ronaldo’s talent, his data-driven approach showed the former Manchester United star wasn’t ideal for his preferred pressing system.

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  Erdem spills the beans on Pirlo

  The 36-year-old Shkupi manager revealed some candid details about Pirlo. Erdem claims the Juventus legend preferred Morata over Ronaldo but couldn't bench the former Real Madrid winger as Serie A side spent a whooping €117m on him in the same year.

  "We did an analysis, and his analyst gave us some data. One thing was clear: [Pirlo] didn't like [Paulo] Dybala, and Cristiano Ronaldo wasn't at all suited to his style of play," Erdem said.

  He further added: "He wanted to press high, and the data showed that Cristiano Ronaldo was the worst at sprinting. He didn't want him, but there was nothing he could do. That was just Cristiano Ronaldo.

  "He liked Álvaro Morata much more, who was perfect for his 4-4-2 system. His system couldn't cope with Ronaldo, but he just couldn't do anything against him."

• The challenge of managing a superstar

  Managing Ronaldo has consistently tested even the most experienced coaches, a challenge Pirlo also faced during his time at Juventus. Ronaldo’s commanding personality, unmatched ambition and relentless pursuit of excellence often made it difficult to balance individual brilliance with tactical discipline.

  Maurizio Sarri, who coached Ronaldo at Juventus in 2019–20, admitted that integrating him into a rigid system wasn’t easy. He often felt frustrated trying to balance Ronaldo’s instinctive, attacking nature with the structured play he wanted to implement. Despite moments of tension, Sarri acknowledged Ronaldo’s remarkable ability to stay focused and quickly move on from setbacks, highlighting his elite mentality.

  Jose Mourinho’s experience with Ronaldo at Madrid was defined by mutual respect but also by the clash of two strong egos. He often described managing Ronaldo as an exercise in letting go of excessive control, understanding that certain players perform best when granted freedom rather than restriction.

  At United, Erik ten Hag and Ralf Rangnick both encountered similar challenges. Ten Hag had to deal with Ronaldo’s dissatisfaction over reduced playing time, which culminated in his refusal to come on as a substitute in one match. Rangnick, too, faced public criticism from Ronaldo, who questioned his authority and managerial credentials. Both situations underscored the difficulty of managing a superstar whose personal standards and influence often overshadowed team directives.

  Even Fernando Santos, who shared a long and successful stint with Ronaldo in the Portugal national team, saw the relationship strain during the 2022 World Cup. Tactical decisions to substitute Ronaldo led to visible frustration and a noticeable shift in team morale.

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  Ronaldo's final year at Juventus

  In his last year at Juve, Ronaldo scored 36 goals in 44 appearances, winning the Serie A Capocannoniere with 29 league goals. He became the fastest Bianconeri player to reach 100 goals in just 131 games. Despite his individual success, Juventus finished fourth, but won the Coppa Italia and Supercoppa Italiana. Ronaldo's goal-focused style contrasted with coach Pirlo's possession-based system, yet their relationship remained respectful. That season marked the end of Juventus's nine-year Serie A title streak.

Wolverhampton Wanderers have had a frustrating start to the campaign and Vitor Pereira has been dealt an injury blow involving one of his key players.

Wolves turn focus to Everton clash after defeat at Newcastle

The Old Gold are still to pick up a point in the Premier League and find themselves rooted to the bottom of the table after a frustrating 1-0 loss to Newcastle United last weekend.

Despite a closely contested encounter with plenty of solidity from both sides, Nick Woltemade’s header proved to be the difference, and in a way, he also highlighted Wolves’ lack of attacking potency.

Furious at how the flow of the match was halted, Pereira vented his frustration on Match of the Day by claiming the officials’ willingness to dish out yellow cards slowed his side’s momentum.

He said: “I’m very proud of my team. I think we competed since the first minute until the last minute in a difficult stadium.

“In the end I have a question. How is it possible for a team to press and be aggressive and win duels if we got yellow cards? It spoiled our game. It’s not possible to be aggressive and compete at this level with yellow cards in the middle of the field.”

Nevertheless, their lack of creativity has had a knock-on effect in the final third, something that will need to be rectified as Wolves gear up for a crucial double-header against Everton in the EFL Cup before Leeds United visit Molineux this weekend.

Dele Alli could provide an out-of-window dose of inspiration for the Old Gold. However, Pereira has now been dealt another blow in his search for coolness in front of goal that will frustrate supporters.

Wolves fear Jorgen Strand Larsen injury is now 'more serious'

As relayed by The Yorkshire Evening Post, Wolves may be without Jorgen Strand Larsen for the visit of Leeds this weekend, after Pereira admitted last week the Norway international’s Achilles injury is ‘more serious’ than first feared.

Explaining that the timeline for his return can’t be set in stone, he said after Saturday’s defeat to Newcastle: “Day by day, it’s his Achilles tendon, we cannot push — we need to be patient.”

Wolves' most expensive signings of all time

Football FanCast takes a detailed look at Wolves’ 10 most expensive signings of all time.

By
Charlie Smith

Sep 5, 2025

During the summer, Strand Larsen was the subject of significant interest from Newcastle and was valued at around £65 million by the Old Gold, hence why he ended up remaining at Molineux.

In a frustrating turn of events, the 25-year-old may be missing a while longer and unable to add to his return of 16 goals and five assists in 41 appearances across all competitions since joining initially on loan from Celta Vigo last summer.

Tolu Arokodare made his debut in the defeat at St James’ Park, and he may now be called upon for the coming run of matches following his move to the West Midlands from Genk.

Manchester United's newest star Senne Lammens supposedly became a goalkeeper to 'avoid running and being substituted', with his brother revealing the secrets of the Belgian stopper. Signed from Royal Antwerp this summer for £18.2 million ($24.5m), the 23-year-old has quickly caught attention with his commanding presence between the sticks. His clean sheet on debut in a 2-0 victory over Sunderland before the international break gave United fans a glimpse of his potential.

• Lammens' trial of character awaits at Liverpool

  On Sunday, the young Belgian goalkeeper will walk out at Anfield to take on champions Liverpool, in what promises to be the most intimidating test of his career. However, away from the glitz of the Premier League, his footballing story started in Erpe-Mere, a quiet town nestled between Brussels and Ghent. There, in the modest surroundings of KRC Bambrugge, one of four local clubs that would later merge to form Erpe-Mere United, he kicked his first football. The sport runs deep in the Lammens family. His great uncle Paul is now the honorary chairman of the club, while uncle Steven serves as the sporting director. His father, Eddy, a former Bambrugge player, used to coach youth teams that included Senne’s elder brother, Tom. And it was Tom who first noticed Senne’s unusual determination to stand out right from his childhood. 

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  Lazy Lammens turns goalkeeper

  For the first few years, Lammens played as a striker. Fast, physical, and strong, he was a nightmare for defenders. But at just 10 years old, everything changed, not because of a tactical tweak, but because he disliked running. 

  In an interview with Tom revealed why Senne went in goal: "Mainly because he didn’t want to get substituted. He also didn’t like all the running in training." 

  His father, suspecting this might just be a phase, sent him to a goalkeeper training camp, thinking it would cure his boredom. Instead, it did the opposite. Senne thrived as his height and agility made him a natural fit. 

  "As a player, he was always quite tall and strong for his age, and had a powerful shot," Tom added.

  After two years at his hometown club, Lammens followed his brother to F.C.V. Dender, a professional side not far from home. It was there that he began his transformation into one of Belgium’s most promising young goalkeepers. From Dender, he progressed rapidly through the youth ranks, catching the attention of scouts and earning a move to Club Brugge, where he developed his reputation for commanding his area and handling pressure. When Royal Antwerp offered him first-team football, he seized the opportunity, and his performances there soon put him on United’s radar.

• Courtois has some advice for Lammens

  Ahead of the clash at Anfield, Lammens received some tongue-in-cheek advice from Belgium team-mate Thibaut Courtois, who knows the challenge of Liverpool’s fortress. 

  "It’s a hard stadium," he told Belgian media. "Maybe I should tell him to clap the home fans when he arrives at the Kop!"

  Courtois who has 107 caps for Belgium and two Champions League titles with Real Madrid, made clear the enormity of the task. "His first game was a flavour of what United will get," he said. "He’s a tall guy, he is not afraid to come on crosses, and he’s a kid with personality. I’m sure he can do a good job. He has a tough game this weekend, so I hope if he plays, it will go well for him. All the best to him."

  The Real Madrid star will visit Anfield on November 4 for a Champions League fixture and added: "I will go there myself in a few weeks. It’s always a tough game there, and I guess Liverpool also have to bounce back after losing a few games."

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  A monumental challenge for Lammens

  Liverpool’s recent form has been shaky, with three defeats in a row across all competitions, but that makes them even more dangerous. Whereas, for United, it’s about momentum. Amorim’s side have found some rhythm, thanks to a win over Sunderland, and with the backline looking solid, they’ll count on their new Belgian shot-stopper to hold firm under relentless pressure. For a 23-year-old who once switched to goal just to avoid running laps, this could be a night that defines him.

Manchester United are now racing Chelsea for the signature of an attacking midfielder, who has been compared to former midfielder Thiago Alcântara.

Sesko tipped to struggle after Man Utd fail to sign playmaker

Former Man United man Louis Saha has suggested Benjamin Sesko has the talent to be a success at Old Trafford if given the right service, but could struggle in the short-term given that Ruben Amorim failed to bring in a playmaker during the summer transfer window.

Saha said: “I think he’s capable if the manager managed to get that link between midfield and striker,

“Unfortunately we didn’t get the midfielder we wanted. So we’re still very weak in that department. And this is why I think Sesko will struggle maybe a little bit until we get that sorted.

“He’s got the quality because he’s tall, he’s going to score goals in the air, and he’s very technical as well.”

United did manage to sign two Premier League-proven forwards in the form of Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo, who should be able to provide more goals this season, with the latter player opening his account against Burnley last time out.

However, Amorim’s side have also now entered the race for a different attacking midfielder, according to a report from Spain, which states Man United are looking to sign Barcelona’s Dro Fernandez, who has started to attract widespread interest.

Liverpool, Manchester City and Chelsea are among the clubs set to battle it out for Fernandez’s services, having impressed in youth competitions, while the 17-year-old’s versatility also makes signing him an attractive proposition.

53 y/o manager Man Utd's top target to replace Amorim, has won 11 trophies

An “unbelievable” manager has now entered the frame as United’s first-choice option to replace Ruben Amorim.

By
Dominic Lund

Sep 10, 2025

That said, it could be difficult to tempt the La Liga champions into a sale, given that they are thought to be reluctant to sanction the highly-rated youngster’s departure.

Fernandez could be the new Thiago

The teenager’s former coaches, Javi Roxo and Luis Perez, believe he could be destined for the very top, having compared him to former Barcelona midfielder Thiago, saying: “Dro is a talent of Thiago’s level, I have not seen anyone as technical as Thiago but Dro’s vision of the game is even superior.

“If he relieves himself of pressure and plays freely, he is capable of anything, his talent is infinite.”

The young Spaniard, who is capable of playing in attacking midfield and on the left-wing, is yet to make a senior appearance for Barca, but he has started to make an impact at youth level, scoring two goals in seven UEFA Youth League games last season.

That said, while Fernandez may be capable of being a future star, Man United’s main focus in January should be bringing in an established central midfielder, having missed out in the summer, with Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton and Brighton’s Carlos Baleba among the most exciting targets.

When thinking about the best players to ever play for Germany, the likes of Toni Kroos, Manuel Neuer, Franz Beckenbauer and Gerd Muller all spring to mind. The fact is, they have been blessed with outrageous talent in several different eras – winning four World Cups as a result.

The biggest name that stands out in the modern era is arguably Neuer. It’s rare when a goalkeeper is recognised as the best of his time, but the Bayern Munich legend has simply revolutionised his role. As the first real ‘sweeper keeper’, Neuer shocked opponents by positioning himself close to the half-way line and often taking risks as if he were in the No.6 role rather than between the posts.

Conceding less than a goal a game throughout his international career, it’s no surprise that Neuer has been showered with praise over the years. And that includes from Bayern Munich chief Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, who told reporters: “I’ve seen everyone. Sepp Maier, Oliver Kahn, and now Manu.

“I have the greatest respect for Sepp and Oli, they were absolutely world-class. But what Manuel has done is something else: he took the whole goalkeeping game to a new level.”

Meanwhile, if your preference is goals rather than those that prevent them, then Muller stands out for Germany. Nicknamed Der Bomber by fans thanks to his ability to tear defences apart, only Miroslav Klose has scored more goals for Germany than Muller.

So, there’s certainly plenty of players to choose from in Germany’s illustrious history. You could do a lot worse than simply picking any of the players involved in their 7-1 thrashing of Brazil in 2014, that’s for sure. But that didn’t stop recent Newcastle United signing Nick Woltemade from naming a shock Arsenal player as his favourite German player of all time.

Nick Woltemade: Kai Havertz is my favourite German player

After putting pen to paper to join Newcastle, Woltemade shocked everyone by naming Kai Havertz as his favourite German player. The Arsenal forward was selected over the likes of Klose, Muller and Neuer, with the Newcastle star revealing that he’s a big fan of his compatriot in unexpected fashion.

Whilst Havertz made the cut above several legends, Woltemade may simply enjoy the thought of playing alongside the Arsenal man. If both enjoy impressive campaigns, they could provide Julian Nagelsmann with quite the strike partnership.

Germany are due some success if history is anything to go by too. They haven’t won a major trophy since the 2014 World Cup and the pressure is on ahead of next summer.

With 20 goals and 17 assists in just 55 games for his country, there’s every chance that Havertz will play a large role in Germany’s attempt to get back to the top of world football. Whether his biggest fan in Woltemade is alongside him remains to be seen, however.

Chelsea’s defensive numbers this season, Enzo Maresca’s first campaign in charge at Stamford Bridge, certainly catch the eye for the right reasons.

According to FBref, they have been one of the outstanding sides at the back, conceding just 43 goals across the entire campaign.

That was bettered by three sides, namely Manchester City, newly-crowned champions Liverpool and runners-up Arsenal. The West Londoners are also one of eight sides who have kept double-figure clean sheets this term, with ten to their name.

Yet, they are still not at the level they need to be in order to challenge for the title, highlighted by the fact that the top two in the league have conceded fewer goals. Thus, it may not be a surprise to learn the Blues are targeting a new defender this summer.

Chelsea’s new defensive target

If there is one defender who has been consistently linked with a move away from his current club, it is Dean Huijsen. However, with the Bournemouth centre-back heading in the direction of Real Madrid, they need to source an alternative.

That alternative could be Everton star Jarrad Branthwaite. With the rumour mill continuously in motion for 12 months or so, he could finally be on his way out of the club this summer.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

According to a report from former chief scout of Manchester United and Blackburn Rovers, Mick Brown, talking with Football Insider, the Blues have ‘been looking at’ a deal to bring Branwthaite to Stamford Bridge this summer.

However, the defender, who has played for England as recently as last summer, will not come cheap.

The report suggests that Everton will ask for as much as £100m for their star centre-back, which is money they could reinvest into the squad as a new era dawns on the Blue half of Merseyside.

Why Branthwaite could be Chelsea's new John Terry

Should the West London outfit convince Branthwaite to swap the Blue of Everton for the Blue of Chelsea, he could become their new John Terry. The former Blues skipper is an all-time great, described by Jamie Redknapp as “the best Premier League defender” he’s ever seen.

The 44-year-old is a five-time English top-flight champion and also won one Champions League title for Chelsea.

He made an incredible 717 appearances for his boyhood club and was the club captain for 13 years.

There are certainly similarities between the two. Not only are they both England internationals, with plenty of potential, as the numbers behind Branthwaite’s season have shown, but they are leaders, too.

Of course, Terry was a huge leadership figure for Chelsea for over a decade, but Branthwaite has already captained England U21s as recently as March. He also has the potential to captain Chelsea one day, if his early forays into leadership are anything to go by. His performances on the pitch also do a lot of the talking.

Indeed, it has been yet another strong campaign for Branthwaite, helping to keep the Toffees in the Premier League after what was a poor start to the season. He has been a key player under both Sean Dyche and David Moyes.

This season, the 22-year-old, who was born in Carlisle, has played 33 games for Everton. 30 of those appearances have come in the Premier League, helping to keep nine clean sheets in the top flight so far.

Not only is he a “colossal” presence at the back, according to Statman Dave, but Branthwaite also offers a threat in the opposition box. Although he has gone without a goal this season, he has bagged four times across his short Everton career so far.

The numbers via Sofascore from Branthwaite’s last two seasons in the top flight show just how well he has performed in an Everton shirt. For example, this season, he has made 63 tackles and interceptions, although last term was even higher, with an impressive 116 tackles and interceptions.

On the ball, the defender has an eye for a pass, which again is highlighted by the numbers. In the 2023/25 campaign, he has played 85 long balls at 45.2% accuracy, an improvement on last season’s 73 long balls with a 40.1% pass accuracy.

£100m is a huge price tag, but the West London side could finally replace Terry, something they have struggled, and ultimately failed, to do for a number of years now.

Maresca must finally bin £30m Chelsea flop who earns even more than Sesko

Chelsea must move on a few players when the transfer window opens

1

By
Ross Kilvington

May 20, 2025

Manchester United dropped more points in the Premier League on Sunday when they were held to a 1-1 draw by Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium.

The Red Devils needed a 96th-minute equaliser from Rasmus Hojlund to secure a point against the Cherries last time out, as he deflected the ball into the bottom corner with just a few minutes left to play.

Manchester United have, now, drawn nine and lost 15 of their 34 matches in the Premier League this season, leaving them in 14th place in the table as it stands.

That is, quite obviously, not good enough for where the club should be – competing for titles and trophies – and that is why the upcoming summer transfer window is a big one for Ruben Amorim and INEOS.

The club have to get their recruitment work spot on to build a squad that is capable of competing with the likes of Liverpool, Manchester City, and Arsenal next season.

One area of the pitch where the club could look to improve is the two number ten positions, after Alejandro Garnacho put in a disappointing display against the Cherries.

Why Manchester United should find an upgrade on Garnacho

The Red Devils academy graduate started alongside Bruno Fernandes in the two attacking midfield roles behind Hojlund in the draw down south, and failed to deliver an effective performance.

Garnacho had eight shots on goal, five of which were blocked, and missed one ‘big chance’ in the match, which shows that he was incredibly wasteful in front of goal, and the forward failed to create any ‘big chances’ for his teammates.

That has been the story of the season for the Argentina international. He has been wasteful with the chances that have been created for him, whilst not doing too much to create for his fellow attackers on a consistent basis.

Garnacho has not proven himself to be a reliable attacker, as either a scorer or a creator of goals, in the Premier League for the Red Devils this season, which is why they should attempt to bring in an upgrade on him in the summer transfer window.

As you can see in the table above, the 20-year-old dynamo has underperformed in front of goal, missing a whopping 13 ‘big chances’, and created less than one chance per appearance in the division on average.

Garnacho is capable of the spectacular, as evidenced by the incredible goal against Everton in the video above, but he has not performed consistently enough in the final third to be relied upon week-in-week-out.

This is why the latest news on Manchester United’s interest in signing a new attacking talent should be welcomed by Amorim, who needs more quality from his squad in the final third.

Man Utd plotting talks to sign Serie A forward

According to CaughtOffside, Manchester United are one of a number of teams interested in a deal to sign Ademola Lookman from Atalanta in the upcoming summer transfer window.

The report claims that fellow Premier League teams Arsenal, Newcastle United, Liverpool, and Chelsea are also keen on a swoop for the Nigeria international, who previously played for the likes of Fulham and Everton in the English top-flight.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

It states that Atalanta are looking for a fee of up to £55m in order to part ways with the impressive forward. That price tag is said to have made it difficult for Barcelona and Juventus, who are also interested in Lookman, due to their respective financial situations.

CaughtOffside adds that the Premier League clubs interested in the winger, including Manchester United, are planning to hold talks over a deal to bring him back to England this summer.

INEOS must, now, push to win the race for the 27-year-old Atalanta star because he could come in as a big upgrade on Garnacho to improve Amorim’s options at the top end of the pitch.

Why Ademola Lookman would be a big upgrade on Alejandro Garncho

As aforementioned, the current Manchester United forward has proven himself to be unreliable in the final third with his wasteful finishing and lack of creativity in the Premier League.

Lookman, on the other hand, has excelled as both a scorer and a creator for Atalanta in the past three seasons, since his move to the club in the summer of 2022.

As you can see in the chart above, the Nigerian superstar has vastly outperformed Garnacho across a host of key attacking metrics over the past 365 days of league and European action, averaging more non-penalty goals, Expected Assisted Goals, shot-creating actions, and assists per 90.

This, immediately, suggests that Lookman, who Gian Pero Gasperini dubbed “extraordinary”, could come in as an upgrade on Garnacho next season, by providing a greater threat in the final third.

The Atalanta star’s form over the past 365 days is not a flash in the pan, either, because he has been remarkably consistent in the Serie A over the past three seasons.

As you can see in the table above, Lookman is the picture of consistency with his contributions as both a scorer and a creator of goals, consistently creating and scoring goals at an impressive rate.

The £55m-rated star has proven that he has the quality to make the most of chances that come his way, outperforming his xG in all three seasons, and he has hit double figures for ‘big chances’ created each time as well.

These statistics suggest that Lookman would be a fantastic signing for Manchester United because he could offer more to the team than Garnacho, as both a scorer and a creator, to give the team a greater chance of winning matches by contributing to more goals.

This is why the Red Devils must work hard to beat off competition from the likes of Liverpool and Arsenal to convince the Atalanta star to make the move to Old Trafford this summer.

Better signing than Huijsen: Man Utd preparing bid to sign £51m "monster"

Manchester United are plotting a bid to sign a star who’d be an even better addition than Dean Huijsen.

By
Dan Emery

Apr 28, 2025

Arsenal are rumoured to have made an offer for one player, after Mikel Arteta personally requested his signing behind-the-scenes, with new sporting director Andrea Berta attempting to grant the manager’s transfer wish.

Arsenal play Ipswich after historic win over Real Madrid

The Gunners are now the only team in football history to beat Real Madrid at the Bernabeu twice on their two visits, breaking a record which stood for 77 years, but more importantly, they find themselves in the Champions League semi-finals after their win in Spain on Wednesday.

Arsenal given 50% discount for £280k-per-week forward after opening talks

Andrea Berta could now strike a half-price deal.

By
Emilio Galantini

Apr 18, 2025

Arsenal made a real statement to the rest of the continent that they’re serious contenders to win this year’s Champions League title after their resounding 5-1 aggregate win over the 15-time European champions, but a tough test in PSG now awaits them.

Luis Enrique’s side are the mainstream media’s favourites to clinch this year’s competition, going by this BBC prediction piece, with former Arsenal and England defender Matthew Upson calling the Ligue 1 champions “standout” performers throughout the tournament.

PSG are unbeaten in the league, winning 23 of their 28 French top flight matches so far, but Arsenal have already reigned victorious over them once this season – a 2-0 league phase win back in October, courtesy of goals from Kai Havertz and Bukayo Saka.

Arteta can take encouragement for this, not to mention how Aston Villa very nearly turned their quarter-final tie with PSG on its head, but first the north Londoners must take on Ipswich and Crystal Palace in the Premier League – which could be viewed as two warm-up games ahead of the blockbuster Champions League tie.

“For a short period of time yes, it was a great evening,” said Arteta on celebrating Arsenal’s win over Real Madrid.

“We had a lot of family and a lot of happy faces around the club, so it was a good moment, but immediately you have to switch it up, and now it’s Ipswich in the Premier League.”

Arsenal make "ambitious" offer for Athletic Bilbao starlet Nico Williams

Away from the pitch, Berta is already planning for next season by earmarking Arsenal’s top summer targets.

One of them is widely believed to be Athletic Bilbao starlet Nico Williams, who’s back to his very best in this latter stage of the campaign and most recently guided his side into the Europa League semi-finals with a decisive goal against Rangers.

The £170,000-per-week winger, regarded as one of Europe’s most exciting talents, has been subject to intense interest from Arsenal in recent weeks, and Berta recently held talks with Williams’ representatives.

The 22-year-old is also regarded by Arteta as a “perfect” player for Arsenal, according to Fabrizio Romano, and another update has now come to light on their pursuit of the Basque sensation.

According to a Spanish media report, as cited by Football 365, Arteta has personally requested the forward’s signing – prompting Arsenal to make an “ambitious” offer for Williams. He is believed to be increasingly tempted by the possibility of playing in England, and Arsenal see Williams as a key target – meaning they are also ready to pay his release clause of around £50 million.

The nature of this offer is currently unclear, but Arsenal are apparently taking action due to Barcelona’s “inactivity” in the race for Williams.

There is confidence that Tottenham Hotspur chairman Daniel Levy can sign a record-breaking player at a discounted price, with his club eager to sell him to Spurs this summer as both parties look to strike a solution.

Tottenham's summer transfer plans amid uncertain Postecoglou future

A lot of the noise around Spurs is centered on Ange Postecoglou and his long-term future, with the north Londoners believed to be doing their due-diligence on potential successors for the Australian after a disappointing campaign.

Tottenham in contact with ex-Bayern Munich boss to replace Ange Postecoglou

The Australian is being tipped to leave regardless of their European campaign.

By
Emilio Galantini

Apr 25, 2025

A host of managers are being linked with the Spurs job right now, including former fan favourite Mauricio Pochettino, but technical director Johan Lange and the club’s recruitment team must also be mindful of their transfer plans – with or without Postecoglou at the helm.

Spurs want to reinforce their team across multiple areas of the squad, and are believed to be one of the many Premier League sides looking at Bournemouth defender Dean Huijsen (Sky Sports), who is widely expected to leave when a club triggers his £50 million release clause.

Meanwhile, GiveMeSport have reported that Eintracht Frankfurt midfielder Hugo Larsson is a target for Postecoglou’s side, and it is believed he’d consider a move to N17 this summer despite reported interest from Man City.

Larsson would cost Tottenham around £50 million, so the 20-year-old rising star wouldn’t come cheap, and they’ve been surprisingly linked with a swoop for his teammate, Kaua Santos, who performed impressively against Spurs during their Europa League quarter-final tie.

Lange has personally held talks over a move for Santos, according to reports in Germany, while there is still some way to go when it comes to Mathys Tel and his long-term future.

The Frenchman joined Spurs on loan with an option to buy for around £43 million, but Tel has arguably had a slow start to life at the club and Levy may not want to pay the full amount to keep him long-term.

Bayern Munich hoping they can agree permanent sale of Mathys Tel to Tottenham

That is according to Kicker, via Sport Witness, who reports that Bayern Munich are hoping they can agree Tel’s permanent sale to Tottenham, and could let him join the club for a discounted price.

There is still confidence from both parties that a deal will be struck for the 19-year-old, and work is ongoing to reach a compromise ahead of the summer window. Tel has managed three goals in 13 appearances for Tottenham so far, but his versatility and sky-high potential would make him a useful asset for Postecoglou or any new manager.

The teenager is a record-breaker already, becoming Bayern’s youngest ever goalscorer in 2022 at just 17, attracting praise from Germany legend Thomas Müller.

“Mathys should keep doing his thing: firing shots in on goal. He’s a superb finisher,” said Muller. “He’s only 18 and is making the most of it at the moment. He’s always positive, always has a smile on his face and has great finishing in training and in matches.”